What does it mean to lose your roots—within your culture, within your family—and what happens when you find them?
Nicole Chung was born severely premature, placed for adoption by her Korean parents, and raised by a white family in a sheltered Oregon town. From childhood, she heard the story of her adoption as a comforting, prepackaged myth. She believed that her biological parents had made the ultimate sacrifice in the hope of giving her a better life, that forever feeling slightly out of place was her fate as a transracial adoptee. But as Nicole grew up—facing prejudice her adoptive family couldn’t see, finding her identity as an Asian American and as a writer, becoming ever more curious about where she came from—she wondered if the story she’d been told was the whole truth.
With warmth, candor, and startling insight, Nicole Chung tells of her search for the people who gave her up, which coincided with the birth of her own child. All You Can Ever Know is a profound, moving chronicle of surprising connections and the repercussions of unearthing painful family secrets—vital reading for anyone who has ever struggled to figure out where they belong.
The Structure of All You Can Ever Know:
I enjoyed the structure of All You Can Ever Know insofar as memoirs go it was linear, the author communicated clearly and her voice was relatable. Chung goes forward outlining what it was like growing up in a loving family while at the same time growing up as a transracial adoptee. She does a good job of outlining her life and her childhood, and what ultimately encouraged her to seek out answers. Overall this memoir was well edited and put together.
My Takeaway:
This is a great book to read. It's not too long, however there is some repetition of sentiment at times. Maybe this was with the intent of emphasizing certain aspects of Chung's experience and perception of her family, however I did notice some overlap. In a time where there is so much of people trying to do the right thing or adopting across racial boundaries her story is priceless in helping others understand the world she grew up in. It definitely is something I believe will help people see the world more clearly and be empathetic to those around them.
This memoir I believe would suit anyone looking to adopt or understand the world of adoption and adoptees. All You Can Ever Know looks at Chung trying to decipher who she is and her identity. Readers that enjoy self realization and internal journeys will probably enjoy her book.
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